Adjustably controlled glassware transfer mechanism



April 3, 1956 w. R. MORGAN 2,740,382

ADJUSTABLY CONTROLLED GLASSWARE TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 26, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l lnl/EN roR:

) fir TO R ays WILL mM R. Mops/2A;

April 3, 1956 w. R. MORGAN 2,740,382

ADJUSTABLY CONTROLLED GLASSWARE TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 26, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN l E'NT'OR: WILL/RM R. Holeen/g 'trated involves a support .ton rod passes. .axis of the motor piston and thus limit the total-stroke of the piston atua United, states Patent ADJUSTABLY CONTROLLED GLASSWARE TRANSFER MECHANESM -WillianrR. Morgan, Canton, Ohio Application September 26, 1952, Serial No. 311,717 Claims. (Cl. 121-38) 688,470, filed August 5, 1946, for Bottle Forming Machine.

In that application, the transfer device there illusupon which is mounted apneumatic motor having a piston rod connected by appropriate linkage to the movable vacuum head. A means for adjusting the stroke of the piston rod is'provided in the form of an adjusting screw which is engaged through the cylinder .head opposite that through which the .pis- This screw may be adjusted alongthe cylinder so as to abut withthe retracted desired point. The location of this adjustingscrew,:however, is such that when the transfer deviceis assembled in the bottleforming machine, adjustmentof the ,piston stroke is inconvenient. In addition, theWinderapplication discloses a crosshead which is slidably-supp0rted on the aforementioned support and which is further guided-by a pair of cantileveredguide rods anchored in the cylinder head and passing slidably throughz'the'cross- .head. The crossheadis, of course, connected -to-- the piston rod for movement-therewith, and the zlatter extends beyond the-crosshead for pivotal connection with aconnecting rod. The connecting rod is adjustable in length andis, in turn, connected toa bellcranklever. The .adjustability ofthe .connecting rod, in conjunction with'the ability toadjust the stroke of the motor piston, enables-the vacuum head, which is connected to move with the above-mentionedibell crank, to-be adjusted to appropriate predetermined limiting positions.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a transfer-mechanism in which the adjustments forbot-h the stroke 'of the piston andithe length ofthelinkage-connected thereto .are more easily accessible with *the mechanism in assembled position on the bottle forming machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a smoother operating glassware transfer :mechanism through the elimination of sliding surfaces 7 and the substitution therefor of frictionless bearings.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a transfer mechanismshown supported "between adjacent wind columns of a bottle forming machine, the the bottle forming machine being shown in dotted out- "line;

pper end of ablank mold of Fig. 2" is a side elevational view of the'transfer-mechanism with certain associated parts depicted in dotted lines to illustrate their cooperation with..'the..assembly;

Figs. -3 and4 are fragmentary .sectional views taken "which/the piston rod 31'passes freely. The head portion sion '24 being shaped gaged. A transfer however, by lifting zit outwardly. Asis .cable therein, this-piston having a piston passes outwardly through a cylinder head '32 secured by 43 containing 'an aperture .46 in the central boss- 2,740,382 Patented Apr. 3, 1956 piston stroke adjusting nut;

Fig. 11 isan end elevationalview, partly in section, of a removed piston rod adjustingnut;

Fig. 12 is a side 'elevational view of the removed piston rod adjusting nut of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a topplanview 'of a removed guide'rod bracket.

Referring tothedrawings more particularlyby means of reference numerals, thenumeral 20 indicates gen erally a transfer mechanism constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention. The mechanism 24B is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 mounted on a portion of a glass bottle forming machine. While'thepresent invention is not limited to a particular machine, ref- .erence to the 'Winder application Serial No. 688,470,

filed August 5, 1946, will show the machine for which thismechanism is especially adapted. In that machine, the mechanism -20 is disposed between vertical columns 21. having horizontal flanges 22.

The mechanism'ZO'itself comprises a base casting or support 23 having two-lateral extensions 24 that are adapted to rest upon and be supported bythe flanges 22 of'the columns 21. It will be notedthat each lateral extension 24 is adapted to interfit with circular ridges 25 adjacentthe upper surfaces of the flanges 22, the extentofit accurately around the outer arcuate surfaces of these-ridges for easy positioning of the transfer-mechanism, 'and'for holding'them in'place,

since the extensions cannot be pulled out when so enmechanism may "be easily removed,

shown, the 'flangesZZ are rectangular in shape, so as to'receive -the =lateral projections '24 and .provide space-for screws or holts' 26.

At. the left end'(as shown) of the'support'casting 23,

.thereis mounted a cylinder28. 'Preferably,'the cylinder :28 is positioned on the support '23 by-conventional dowel: means so that'the parts may '-be interfitted ac- .curately. The cylinder is held to the casting by screws that pass upwardly through the bottom of the casting. The cylinder ZS-contains a piston'30 (Fig. 5) reciprorod"31 that screws 33'to the cylinder. This cylinder head has three horizontally extending bosses,'inclu'ding a central boss 35 and two laterallydisposed bosses 36. The central .boss "35 has a threaded projection thereon, over which a-piston stroke adjusting nut 37 is engaged.

The nut 37, as shown in Fig. 10, has a segmented skirt. portion '38 which isinternally threaded and an annular head portion 39 having .an axial bore 40 through 39 also contains a'plurality: of radially extending wells 41 .nut. Adjacent its freeend the skirt portion 38 has itsexternal diameter reduced to provideaseat for asplit collar :42. The collar 42- has 21 depending boss portion 44 in which is received a pin 45 .secured in acomplementary depending boss portion of the cylinder head 32. .The collar 42,..also-includes a screw- 47. adapted to-tighten thesame about the skirt :portion 38 of the adjustinginut it over the'ridges and then drawing The central boss has a bore provided with an internal annular groove 51 for a sealing element such as the CB-ring 52. The piston rod 31 passes slidably through the bore 5t) and extends therebeyond for threaded connection with a piston rod adjusting nut 53. The nut 53, shaped as clearly shown in Figs. ll and 12, has a threaded bore 54 which receives the free end of the piston rod 31 and is also of split construction by virtue of which a clamping screw 55 is adapted to maintain a predetermined adjustment between the nut 53 and the piston rod 31. it will be noted (Fig. 6) that the piston rod 3.2 is provided with a plurality of radially extending wells 56 adjacent the threaded end portion thereof, by means of which wells the piston rod 31 may be rotated relative to the nut 53 for proper adjustment therein.

The piston rod adjusting nut 53 is secured by means of screws 58 to a crosshead 59.

The crosshead 59 is adapted to reciprocate along parallel guide rods 60, each secured at one end in a boss 36 on the cylinder head 32 and supported at the other end by means of a bracket assembly 61. This latter assembly comprises a bracket 62, accurately located by dowels and bolted to the support 23. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 13, the bracket 62 has spaced upstanding elements 63 each provided with a bore 64 for slidably receiving a flanged bushing 65. Each bushing 65 is retained in the position as shown in Fig. 6 by means of a set-screw 66, the latter being best shown in Fig. 1. Each of these bushings 65 threadedly receives one end of a rod 66, the latter being longitudinally adjustable therein and adapted to be retained in adjusted position by means of a jam nut 67. A slot is provided in the threaded end of each rod 69 for adjusting the same by means of a screw driver.

As above mentioned, one end of each guide rod 60 is received in a boss 36 of the cylinder head 32 and is slidable therein up to an annular flange portion 70 of the rod 60. Clearly, when a rod 60 is adjusted longitudinally in the bracket assembly 61, the flange 70 is caused to move either toward or away from the cylinder head 32. A pair of coiled springs 71, along with a pair of washers 72, are engaged around the two rods 60 so as to react against the flanges 70. It will be seen that when the crosshead 59 moves toward the cylinder 28 it will compress the springs 71, thus cushioning and decelerating the end of this stroke of the piston.

Appropriate frictionless bearings are preferably provided for the crosshead 59 to enhance the smoothness of reciprocation. The forward end of the crosshead 59 is provided with clevis means 76 for receiving one end of a connecting link 77, the other end of this link being received in a similar clcvis arrangement 78 on a bell crank 79. Preferably, both ends of the link 77 are provided with appropriate bearings 80 for pivotal engagement with pivot pins 81 and 82 in the clevis arrangements 76 and 78, respectively. The pivot pins 81 and 82 are retained in assembled positions by means of setscrews 83.

The remainder of the transfer mechanism 20 is preferably identical in construction to the transfer device disclosed in the aforementioned Winder application. Briefly, the bell crank member 79 is pivotally mounted on the extreme forward or right hand end (as shown) of the support casting 23. At its outer end the bell crank 79 carries a swinging transfer head assembly 86 which, in turn, carries a vacuum head 87 as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2. The head assembly 86 includes a link 88 slidably and pivotally connected to a roller bracket 89 secured to the support 23. As clearly disclosed in the above-mentioned Winder application, rocking of the bell crank 79 causes the swinging head assembly $6 to move between the positions shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2, thereby to transfer a glass parison 90 from a blank mold $1 to a finish mold 92. Rocking of the bell crank 79 is, of course, caused by the reciprocation of the piston 30 in the cylinder 28, which reciprocation is controlled by the timed action of a valve 93.

Operation The operation of the transfer mechanism 20 is similar to that of its prototype disclosed by Winder, except for control and adjustment of the travel of the reciprocating elements. Since, for proper operation of the bottle forming machine with which the mechanism 20 is associated, it is necessary to dispose the vacuum head 87 accurately in its alternate up and down position, it is very desirable that the end points of reciprocation of the piston 30 be adjustable with the mechanism 20 in installed position. Thus, the instant mechanism 20 is arranged to provide accessibility to its adjustable elements from the front or right hand end of the device as depicted.

The retraction stroke of the piston 30 is limied by abutment of the piston rod adjusting nut 53 with the piston stroke adjusting nut 37. An appropriate tool inserted in the wells 41 of the nut 37 serves to adjust the latter axially along the threaded portion of the boss 35. Upon the determination of an appropriate adjustment, the nut 37 is retained in position by tightening the screw 47 in the clamp 42, thereby securing the latter to the nut 37. Rotation of both the collar 42 and the nut 37 is then restrained by the pin 45 engaging the hole 44 in the boss portion 43 of the collar 42. As is obvious from the drawings, this adjustment controls the up position of the vacuum head 87.

The down position of the head 87 is determined by the total length of the linkage connecting the piston 30 with the bell crank 79. The length of this linkage is adjusted by inserting an appropriate tool in the wells 56 of the piston rod 31 so as to adjust the threaded end of the rod 31 along the threaded portion of the piston rod adjusting nut 53. Upon proper adjustment being made, the nut 53 is clamped upon the threaded portion of the piston rod 31 by tightening the screw 55. It may be mentioned that the angular adjustment of the head 87 about a horizontal line through its pivoted connection with the bell crank 79 is adjustable by means of screws 95, this adjustment being similar to that for the aforementioned prototype of the instant transfer mechanism 20.

The decelerating action exerted by the springs 71 is adjustable by turning the guide rods 60 in the threaded bushings 65, which changes the location at which the crosshead 59 abuts with the washers 72 where deceleration begins. The rods 69 are maintained in their adjusted position by tightening the jamb nuts 67.

Replacement of a mechanism 20 in a bottle forming machine is accomplished quickly and easily in a manner similar to that for its previously mentioned prototype. The screws 26 which attach the mechanism between adjacent columns 21 are removed and the mechanism is then lifted to clear the ridges 2S, whereupon it may be withdrawn radially outward from the bottle forming machine. A new unit may be installed by reversing the process, automatic alignment being attained by engagement of the arcuate edges of the projections 24 with the ridges on the columns. When the present invention is used on a multiple machine such as that shown in the Winder application, a suitable number of the mechanisms 20 will be disposed around the supporting framework of the machine so that they may be actuated during rotation of the frame. It is apparent that the present construction lends itself not only to ready interchangeability of the parts, but to increased ease of servicing and adjusting the equipment.

What is claimed is:

1. In a transfer mechanism for glassware, a base, a reciprocating drivingmember mounted on the base, a movable crosshead mounted on the base, a rockable member mounted on the base, means interconnecting the driving member, the movable crosshead and the'rockable member for simultaneous reciprocating movement, said interconnecting means including means for adjusting both the crosshead and the rockable member relative to the driving member, means for adjusting the reciprocating stroke of the driving member, and resilient cushioning means engageable by the crosshead at one end of its movement, said cushioning means being adjustably supported for selective control of its cushioning action.

2. In a transfer mechanism for glassware, a base, a reciprocating driving member mounted on the base, parallel guide rods adjustably mounted on the base, a crosshead movably supported on the guide rods, means adjustably interconnecting the driving member with the crosshead, a cushioning spring on each guide rod, said springs being engageable with the crosshead for decelerating the same at one end of its movement, and means for adjusting the position of the springs relative to the base to vary the point of engagement with the crosshead.

3. In a transfer mechanism for glassware, an air cylinder including a cylinder head having a threaded projection, a piston rod connected to the piston and extending slidably through the projection on the cylinder head, a movably mounted element connected to the piston rod outside the cylinder, means threadedly received on said cylinder head projection for abutment with said movably mounted element for adjusting the stroke of the piston rod, said latter means comprising a piston stroke adjusting nut having an annular head portion and an internally threaded segmented skirt portion, and clamping means disposed around said skirt portion for maintaining the piston stroke adjusting nut in adjusted position.

4. In transfer mechanism for glassware, a base, an air cylinder including a reciprocable piston rod mounted on the base, an upstanding bracket mounted on the base and spaced axially from the cylinder, guide rods disposed parallel to said piston rod and extending between said cylinder and said bracket, a crosshead mounted for reciprocation on said guide rods, said crosshead being connected with said piston rod, spring cushioning means mounted on said guide rods for cushioning engagement with said crosshead upon movement of the latter in one direction of reciprocation, and means for moving said cushioning means relative to said cylinder for varying its cushioning effect upon said crosshead.

5. In a transfer mechanism for glassware, a base, an air cylinder including a reciprocable piston rod mounted on the base, an upstanding bracket mounted on the base and spaced axially from the cylinder, guide rods disposed parallel to said piston rod and extending between said cylinder and said bracket, a crosshead mounted for reciprocation on said guide rods, said crosshead being connected with said piston rod, spring cushioning means mounted on said guide rods for cushioning engagement with said crosshead upon movement of the latter in one direction of reciprocation, means for moving said cushioning means relative to said cylinder for varying its cushioning effect upon said crosshead, said means for moving the cushioning means comprising means including threaded means mounting said guide rods for axial movement relative to the base, and means on the guide rods abutting the ends of the cushioning means remote from the crosshead, and means for securing the guide rods in adjusted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,165,811 Stafford Dec. 28, 1915 1,206,707 Hunter NOV. 28, 1916 1,230,049 Statford June 12, 1917 1,295,934 Snyder Mar. 4, 1919 1,370,924 Smith Mar. 8, 1921 1,863,448 Landenberger et al June 14, 1932 2,252,939 McCoy Aug. 19, 1941 2,373,226 Coates Apr. 10, 1945 2,637,054 Holmes May 5, 1953 

